Daybreak wins Youth Charity Jam

Out of 14 competitors in two nights of performances, the band Daybreak (pictured) won the 2011 RAMI 10th Annual Youth Charity Jam at the Tebala Shrine Temple Saturday, March 26. Pictured (from left) are Zander Day, Mitch Anderson, Treavor Brown, Sam Anderson and Justin Brown. Daybreak's winnings included $250 provided by Beetcafe.com, a 10-hour recording session provided by Darkhouse Productions, and a performance at the 20th Annual RAMIs at Tebala Shrine Temple Friday, April 29. The Sasparillas won second place and $200. Bloom won third place and $150. Spiraling Upwards sold the most tickets and won $100. “This was the best competition we ever had, by far,” said RAMI Committee Chairman Dan Eisman, member of the band Missing Links and RAMI Hall of Fame winner. On The Waterfront (OTW) Executive Director Becky Genoways, one of the judges for the evening, said, “I am so impressed by the quality of the music and talent of these kids, and I now have such great faith in the future of music in Rockford.” Genoways announced the top three winners would play On The Waterfront. The other judges were Cedric Hanserd of the band Too Deep, Arik Jenkins of Guzzardo Music, J.J. Jacobs of the Missing Links, Beatrice Hagney and Caroline Pilcher of In Youth We Trust, and local promoter Justine Milnes. The other great bands that made the finals where Girl of Vulpes Marina (Sarah Griffin), Escape, The Morning After, and East Lincoln Avenue. Sponsors were Monster Drink/LaMonica Beverages, Beetcafe.com, The Rock River Times, Tebala Shrine Temple, Darkhouse Productions, Phoenix Traders, Guzzardo Music, In Youth We Trust and Rockford Park District. (Photo by Frank Schier)